Aston Villa: Mat Kendrick speaks to San Jose Earthquakes expert in a detailed Q&A about new boy Simon Dawkins

Ahead of Simon Dawkins’ potential Premier League debut against West Ham at Villa Park on Sunday, Robert Jonas, San Jose Earthquakes reporter for www.Centerlinesoccer.com
, gives Mat Kendrick the lowdown on Villa’s new signing.

How much of a part did Dawkins play in San Jose Earthquakes reaching the Major League Soccer play-offs in America?

Dawkins was an integral part of an Earthquakes attacking unit that scored a franchise record 72 goals in 2012. He contributed eight goals last season as a wide midfielder that looked to cut the ball into the center of the field. While his assist numbers have not been special, he was the best player on the team in his ability to hold possession and dictate the tempo of the game. “Calm on the ball” was the usual refrain to describe his play.

How sad were Earthquakes to see him leave?

I spoke to some of the players, in addition to head coach Frank Yallop, and they all said that Dawkins will be missed. He was a great team-mate both on and off the field, and he was appreciated for the quality he brought to the offense. Dawkins had the ability to hold the ball for that split second that allowed players off the ball time to make runs in the attacking third. He would also track back to help on the defensive side of the ball when necessary, a trait that endeared him with his team-mates.

New Aston Villa signing Simon Dawkins

What is his best position on the field?

Dawkins is not a natural No.10, but does better as a withdrawn forward or winger. He was most effective playing on the left side, but he also looked comfortable when he found himself on the right. As I mentioned above, he was most effective cutting from the touchline to the inside, where he was able to link consistently with the attacking midfielder and forwards. Also, by cutting inside with regularity, the Quakes left fullback had space to make overlapping runs into the opponent’s half, an integral component to San Jose’s tactics.

Did he cope with the physical demands, given his injury history?

Throughout his first season in San Jose, Dawkins did not look able to handle the physical demands of MLS. Coupled with a lengthy recovery period following surgery early that season, Dawkins only came into his own at the tail end of 2011. Last year, with a better track record of staying healthy, Dawkins appeared in 27 of the Quakes’ 34 regular season games. He adapted to the style of play in MLS and toughened up when in possession of the ball. Some niggling injuries kept him from being available for the whole of the 2012 season, but overall he was very effective.

What exactly is his injury history?! I am finding this information difficult to come by.

Dawkins underwent successful bilateral fasciotomies on both his calves on May 6, 2011 and missed one month of the season. He returned as a bench player for a few weeks before regaining his starting role. Dawkins suffered a hamstring injury in a July 20 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps and missed the next three games. After returning to the team in late August, Dawkins started the remainder of the Quakes games that season and flourished in October, but the team missed the playoffs.

Last year, Dawkins arrived just prior to the start of the season and began as a bench player. He became a starter when the winger in front of him on the depth chart suffered a broken collarbone. Dawkins continued to shine until he suffered a sprained shoulder against Real Salt Lake on June 23. He returned to the bench by mid July and played injury free until late September. He suffered a sprained ankle against Seattle on September 22 and played minimally for the remainder of the regular season. Dawkins did start for the Quakes in both legs of the playoffs series against LA Galaxy in early November.

How did his move to MLS first come about?

In late 2008, the San Jose Earthquakes and Tottenham Hotspur joined in a partnership designed to share best practices and player and coaching resources. In early 2010, Dawkins was surveyed by the Earthquakes coaching staff while the team was in England for a preseason training stint. He was not deemed ready to go at that point, but by the following year he was able to train with the Quakes when they returned to Spurs Lodge for another preseason training camp. He was made available in March 2011 to San Jose on a five month loan that was eventually extended through the end of the MLS season.

I know these details are often confidential, but what kind of salary would he have earned with the Earthquakes? (It has been rumoured that he earned £30,000 per year, which is less than half of what Darren Bent, Villa’s best paid player, earns in a week!)

According to numbers released by the MLS Players’ Union, Dawkins earned $50,000 per season during his two years in the league. That figure may not include any payments due to Spurs as part of the loan agreement, or any wages he may have earned directly from his contract with Tottenham. This offseason, the Earthquakes made what they called “a large amount of money” to Spurs to secure his rights, but his contract holders declined. I would expect the Quakes offer was for many times what he was reported to have earned the previous two seasons, perhaps in the $250,000+ range, given his performance comparison to other players in MLS.

New Aston Villa signing Simon Dawkins

What kind of guy was Simon like away from the field? (I have seen an interview with him, but have yet to meet him)

Simon was always very pleasant with the media and with supporters during his time in San Jose. He is relatively soft spoken, but was not shy in answering questions both good and bad. He was a calm locker room presence and comported himself equally as graciously on the training field. He seemed to fit in with the laid back atmosphere of San Jose from the moment he arrived.

From seeing him play, how prepared do you think he is for the EPL - and do you think he will be successful at Aston Villa?

I believe that Dawkins, because of his abilities and motivation, will do well in the EPL. He is not the quickest player, but he does well with the ball at his feet. He had a good eye for the game that often was too good for his team-mates. Dawkins can strike a ball with power, but he is somewhat limited in his passing range. He’ll do well in tight quarters, but does not always find success creating his own space. As a winger in the EPL, he’ll need the cover of a fullback to be most effective. It has always been his dream to play at the highest level in England, so I imagine he will show some nerves initially. When he calms down and gains a level of comfort, I expect he will do well enough that his MLS years will be behind him.

What have his coaches/team-mates at San Jose had to say about him? Do you have links to any interviews or quotes you or someone else might have written about him?

Nothing specific in terms of links, but to a tee I can say his team-mates called him the most talented player on the squad. For two years running he was measured in the top-25 of the MLS Castrol Index player ratings. He was never asked to be a star in San Jose, but he was the player that fans watched with interest because he was always capable of doing something special.

If there are any other interesting, noteworthy things to mention about Simon, please let me know.

A gracious person who always wore a smile on his face, Dawkins was a true gentleman. His team-mates admired him, but were not in awe of him, and that helped in creating a good interplay on the field. He very much enjoyed being in California — it was a much better climate than England — but playing back home was always his dream. Personally, I hope for all the best for Simon as he gets his opportunity to play in the EPL.